Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Apparently solar panels produce roughly between 17 - 19 volts, NOT 12 V. The wattage ratings that you THINK you will be getting, are NOT going to be, what you're ACTUALLY getting. You have to go by the AMPERAGE multiplied by 12 volts. (this comment has been chastised as incorrect, however I stand by my assertion, that the USABLE wattage may be different than the THEORETICAL wattage) what we use is 12 or 24 volt systems we don't use 17 or 19 volts Had I known that, I would have purchased a different fan for my attic (OR a larger panel), a fan with the proper wattage rating for the size panel, I actually have now. To me: the description of this item (and EVERY solar panel regardless of brand out there) is NOT accurate. This is NOT a 12-volt, 100 watt panel, that would be 8.3 AMPS, but this is a 17.6 volt, 5.6 amp panel. What's WORSE, is the lead wires are ALUMINUM core. Aluminum has a higher resistance to electricity flow than copper, and this may limit the amperage, current flow. I have included pictures of a real piece of 10 gauge copper wire for comparison and the panel lead wires are double insulated so as to make them look to be 10 gauge when they're actually ONLY 12 gauge. Keep in mind this is ALL solar panels, not just this brand. very disappointed in not only the smaller gauge wire being used but the fact it's ALUMINUM core. Unfortunately for the uninformed buyer, like myself, apparently NO solar panel description or manufacturing seems to be accurate. The description of this item says a 12 volt panel with a 100 Watts, but the item, at 12 volts with 5.6 amps, is only 67 Watts, in a PERFECT world. I will be replacing the fake aluminum 12 gauge wire with REAL 10 gauge copper wire. I thought I would be able to run a 90 Watt, 12-volt fan with power left over to run a yard light at night, but that didn't work out... because the solar panel did not provide enough power to run the fan, let alone enough extra power to charge the battery, to run a little 20 watt LED yard light too. I bought a 30 amp controller, I have 10 gauge wire. Looks like I'm going to be forced to buy another panel and have it hooked up in parallel so that will be around 130 Watts @12V, in order to power everything I have on my system. UPDATE.... I bought a different brand monocrystalline panel rated at "100 Watts". It also was aluminum core wire and rated at 17.8 volts. Full power it produces roughly 63-64 Watts along with this one. With these in parallel, I'm producing about 123-124 Watts for 3 and 1/2 hours. that's after I replaced the 12 gauge aluminum core wire in both with 10 gauge copper core wire. ***Again, someone has criticised my description of solar panel wattage ratings and usable "working wattage". In contrast, sine wave power, usable wall outlet power, here in the United States, is quoted as 110 volts (RMS) even though the peak is 121. While admittedly not a perfect comparison, with solar panels, it seems, the PEAK wattage of solar panels is what is being quoted, but for lack of a better term and comparison, the RMS "working" wattage is far less. I understand it's not technically accurate, but it does help the average person understand, that they're going to get about two-thirds out of a solar panel than what they thought they would be getting. But again this is the standard for all solar panels being sold.***